Eight Indonesians allegedly duped into becoming Russian soldiers
Indonesia needs to verify their identities, citizenship status, recruitment process and the nature of their involvement, its foreign ministry said. This comes after Ukraine released names of the eight Indonesians.
Ukrainian intelligence has revealed that eight Indonesians were allegedly recruited under false pretenses to become Russian soldiers, according to Indonesia's foreign ministry. The deception involved promises of high-paying jobs, which later turned out to be recruitment into Russia’s army. The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (FISU) stated that Russia systematically recruits foreigners into its occupying forces, with Indonesia being the latest example.
FISU provided Russian visa and migration documents belonging to the eight Indonesians, though they did not explicitly confirm their involvement in the Ukraine war. The Indonesian foreign ministry confirmed receipt of the information from intelligence authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who have coordinated precautionary measures and sent representatives to the concerned countries.
Indonesia's legal provisions protect its citizens from involvement in foreign military forces, with consequences including loss of citizenship if verified. The eight individuals are identified by FISU, with the Kremlin offering high pay, non-combat jobs, expedited Russian citizenship, and attractive social benefits to lure people from dozens of countries.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
